Hi! I’m kind of new to specific equipment and their attributes. I did not even know that rackets were strung differently! I always thought that the tightness of the strings were all the same. Anyway, I play 4 times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. I’m pretty serious about playing even though I am not as good as others. I know that some will probably tell me to just get a cheap racket until I get better, but the thing is, I’m very gullible to the placebo effect. I’ve used rackets all across the price range and performance, and I can say that I perform better with the better rackets due to the fact that I am aware that it is good (doesn’t make me good, but I think it brings out more of my potential). The style I play is kind of my own. Though one girl always say that I play like a girl (I spin and stuff ). Anyway, I do not really smash (have not gotten it quite down yet…and probably will not smash as much when I get it down). I mostly drop (and fast drop so almost like a smash), drive, net drop, push, and clear. I also use this weird shot a lot (kind of like a forehand on the backhand side…) for my backhand crosscourt net drops and for clears. (Backhand is used for backhand smash and drop) I also do a lot of fakes if that helps. I guess that the majority of my style leans a bit towards the defensive but trick shot kind of style. I am more of a singles player (but three out of the four days is at JL’s, and for some reason we do doubles a ton more…like every of the three days until the very end when we do singles). I am not too concerned about durability if the performance definitely outweighs it. There is no limit to the price, because I am more concerned about performance. My last racket was a really good fake NS 9000 X (lasted like 9 months before I killed it in camp on Sat). I liked it a lot, and when I got it, I guess I fell into the placebo effect, and was able to fend for myself against the high school varsity people in the camp. It was a huge boost from the week before that time when I used my own recreational racket and was playing like it was my first time. I prefer Yonex, but if anything is significantly more suitable for me, then it does not matter. Thank you to you all! Any other info needed, just ask .
1. How often do you play, how serious are you? I normally play once a week on court but I play almost everyday at home. 2. What style of player are you? (Aggressive smasher, net player ...) I am an aggressive smasher but now currently trying to be a net player. 3. Do you care much about durability or is it all about performance? As I'm only playing badminton as my hobby, I do care much about durability. 4. How much money do you want to spend? RM 80-RM 130
Do as SH said, demo enough rackets before making a purchase. If you have to jump into the pool blindly, try Yonex Cab30ms (if prefer oval), and MP99 (if prefer iso). SOTX 8 might be cheaper but very good alternate. However, it's more suitable in doubles rather than singles, if you perfer smash a lot of more.
